"Something Here" -- Japanese Street Photographers

Japan is one of unique countries in the world. Geologically, Japan is located in the far East from the Western world, and close to China, one of the cradles of civilization. Japanese people have developed their own complicated culture for centuries within the various isolated islands, and with some influences from the rest of world. Japanese people seem less enthusiastic to communicate with people outside of their country, even in modern times but the internet has changed the situation practically as well as mentally in various fields, including photography.

Many street photographers are now showing their works directly to viewers outside of Japan by means of the internet. There is no need for them to rely on traditional art communities such as publications, galleries, museums, or academia those were common before the internet-world arrived.

I had a chance to see works of ten current Japanese street photographers; Shin Noguchi, Yota Yoshida, Junya Suzuki, Yuko Eguchi, Mankichi Shinshi, Toru Tanaka, Ryosuke Takamura, Tadashi Onishi, Yukari Sasaki, Tatsuo Suzuki. These are members of Facebook group of Japanese Street Photographers.

"I'm here, just here, you're here, just here, there is something here, something beautiful, something special. We are always connected each other, and I want you to feel that: you are not alone at all, there must be someone in the society keeping an eye on your struggle for living."From "Something Here" by Shin Noguchi